my deliciously fun recipe design process.
A peek into how I do what I do every day- designing recipes and making magic!
Whilst my husband flicks the toaster on and calls himself Jamie Oliver… there’s a bit more to creating a recipe than that.
There’s no hard and fast rules when it comes to designing recipes. There are as many methods as there are, well, cooks in the kitchen!
So, I thought I’d give some insight into my process for designing recipes, wrapped up in a pink and red bow, of course!
It looks a little something like this:
Research
First and foremost, I gather information, from both my client and the wider world. Any recipes created by Food Design Studio need to make the customers decision to purchase your product SIMPLE.
That means I consider the tools and techniques required (no sous-vide or unidentifiable ingredient names here!), as well as the accessibility of the ingredients. I also make sure that any ideas are aligned with what the client’s audience wants. For example, the buyers of gluten free flour aren’t looking for panko crumbed anything.
Drafting the Concept
Once I’ve researched, presented ideas back to the client and got the green light, the fun really starts!
Before diving into formal testing, I write a first draft and critically evaluate my proposed ingredients, their quantities, and the suggested methodology. It’s a bit of a quick sanity check - does anything appear repetitive or unnecessary? Could I enhance the flavour, for instance, by using the rind of an orange when I'm already calling for its juice?
I also consider the recipe's appeal - if I came across it online, would I find it interesting or valuable? Would it be a worthy addition to my own recipe repertoire? If the initial answer is 'no', I think about what tweaks could reposition it to be a 'yes'. This step ensures the recipes I create are not just practical, but also inspiring and appealing to the home cook.
Testing, tasting and retesting!
Next, I jump into the kitchen to see if my idea actually works. Testing is the real wildcard in my process (which we allow for when booking client projects in). Sometimes it takes 1 try, sometimes it takes a few days. Sometimes I’ll get inspiration during the cooking or baking process to add a drizzle or sprinkle here and there to really bring it all together. I’ll also trial storage methods, taste and get kid plus husband approval.
This part is the reason I go to the gym every day. Occupational hazard for loving your job and the product so much…
Finalising the recipe
Finally, I rewrite the recipe with fresh eyes to make sure its accurate and flows well. I triple check ingredients against my notes and wrap everything up in a pretty pink Food Design Studio bow for my clients!
That’s it! Plan, test, taste and go.
Despite it sounding so simple, I’m still learning all the time from pros and amateurs alike (yes, even hubby with his toaster).
What’s your favourite recipe? Where did it come from? Have you make your own tweaks? I want to know! 👇
📸 A gorgeous Gluten Free Apple Pear Crumble I created recently for NODO at Home using their amazing gluten free flour.
